tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27131013.post8290781533346696247..comments2019-03-21T08:14:25.970-07:00Comments on Alexandra Sokoloff: Screenwriting Tricks For Authors: How to use this websiteAlexandra Sokoloffnoreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27131013.post-39651456594229079072014-10-09T00:30:18.699-07:002014-10-09T00:30:18.699-07:00Glad to have you here, Brent!Glad to have you here, Brent!Alexandra Sokoloffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02881770599534651858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27131013.post-91933853834657669872014-10-09T00:29:59.041-07:002014-10-09T00:29:59.041-07:00Rebbie, I think you&#39;ll find making a Master Li...Rebbie, I think you&#39;ll find making a Master List is particularly helpful for suspense and thrillers!Alexandra Sokoloffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02881770599534651858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27131013.post-91938782547129258622014-01-13T18:00:28.771-08:002014-01-13T18:00:28.771-08:00Thank you so much for the free info you are great ...Thank you so much for the free info you are great <br />this blog is a wonderful place to learn<br />thanks again I am sure to be your newest, biggest fan!!!Brentnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27131013.post-39917463878861884692009-10-13T08:51:51.706-07:002009-10-13T08:51:51.706-07:00Exactly, Rob! You have a lot more freedom of cha...Exactly, Rob! You have a lot more freedom of chapter division in a book, but you can still see the sequences, whether they&#39;re all in one long chapter or several shorter chapters that make up a sequence.<br /><br />My preference is to write shorter chapters because it&#39;s just more page-turning that way.Alexandra Sokoloffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02881770599534651858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27131013.post-26616653151358066972009-09-25T18:25:35.739-07:002009-09-25T18:25:35.739-07:00In regards to sequences: So are the &quot;little&...In regards to sequences: So are the &quot;little&quot; sequences kind of like chapters in a book? And several chapters can make up a &quot;big&quot; sequence?Robhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04914329013690756540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27131013.post-91521927689795097862009-06-14T08:14:04.781-07:002009-06-14T08:14:04.781-07:00This is so wonderful Alex-thank you so much for sh...This is so wonderful Alex-thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. After two books, one a historical mystery and one women&#39;s fiction, I am determined to write what I love--suspense. Your posts are going to help so much. I&#39;m starting my Master List now!Rebbie Macintyrehttp://www.rebbiemacintyre.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27131013.post-23181556781378996002009-05-22T05:27:46.088-07:002009-05-22T05:27:46.088-07:00Thank you, Kaye! I can't wait to hear what you t...Thank you, Kaye! I can't wait to hear what you think of THE UNSEEN - the whole North Carolina thing, of course...Alexandra Sokoloffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02881770599534651858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27131013.post-70392085157902040312009-05-19T17:29:48.451-07:002009-05-19T17:29:48.451-07:00Alex - I'm loving your blog, honey and tickled to ...Alex - I'm loving your blog, honey and tickled to pieces that you're sharing all this with us. Thanks!<br /><br />And.<br /><br />Cannot wait for The Unseen!!! yippee!Kaye Barleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07486129009717476920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27131013.post-44092837805269700832009-05-19T13:43:00.000-07:002009-05-19T13:43:00.000-07:00Now you've got it, Kristine!
It IS confusing, seq...Now you've got it, Kristine!<br /><br />It IS confusing, sequence and SEQUENCE.<br /><br />(Really wish I could just rename SEQUENCE!!!).Alexandra Sokoloffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02881770599534651858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27131013.post-73100721008783936432009-05-19T11:34:00.000-07:002009-05-19T11:34:00.000-07:00Okay, it is becoming more clear now.
There are di...Okay, it is becoming more clear now.<br /><br />There are different layers/degrees of sequences. There are BIG SEQUENCES and then smaller sequences that can happen within the bigger SEQUENCES. And there are usually 8 BIG SEQUENCES within the entire file/story, roughly two per column on our story structure chart. <br /><br />Whew! The fog is lifting. <br /><br />Thank you so much!Kristinenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27131013.post-51607888378668321092009-05-19T04:30:00.000-07:002009-05-19T04:30:00.000-07:00Oh, and by the way - I don't want to make this any...Oh, and by the way - I don't want to make this any MORE confusing, but if anyone wants to say the RAIDERS actually has three separate sequences in Act One:<br /><br />- the jungle/chase<br />- the university<br />- Nepal<br /><br />I wouldn't argue that for a second. (However, the Act One climax is definitely the end of that Nepalese bar scene).<br /><br />This isn't an exact science, and whatever makes the most sense to you - go with it!Alexandra Sokoloffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02881770599534651858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27131013.post-81138060169017194372009-05-19T04:21:00.000-07:002009-05-19T04:21:00.000-07:00Thanks, Kristine. I'm excited to have the book ou...Thanks, Kristine. I'm excited to have the book out, too.<br /><br />Sure, I'd be glad to talk more about sequences. In fact that should be a whole post, but for now - <br /><br />I think what may be making this confusing is that there are two different concepts working here.<br /><br />A SEQUENCE in general is a series of scenes that are related to each other and unified in some way. They're all set in one place and/or are about the same overall action (often both). So you have "the Jungle sequence" in Raiders of the Lost Ark, which is really the whole set up, from the opening image of the mountain to the introduction of Indy, to Indy and his flunky going into the cave, what they're after, all those near misses, grabbing the idol, running from the huge boulder, being chased by natives, and finally escaping in the plane (with snake).<br /><br />Those are a lot of actions and bits, but they all have to do with the same overall action: getting the idol from the cave and escaping. And they're all set in relatively the same place - the jungle as opposed to , say, Manhattan.<br /><br />HOWEVER - <br /><br />The way I've been using the term SEQUENCE, in regard to an 8 Sequence film structure - is a bigger chunk of scenes that might contain two or even three separate sequences. A movie is generally divided into 8 sequences of about 15 minutes each. That is, a Sequence is half an Act. <br /><br />So in the 8 sequence model, the cave and chase sequence in RAIDERS is only one sequence in Sequence One. Then we cut to Indy at his university, teaching class, and getting summoned by Marcus to go talk to the government guys, who want to hire him to find the Lost Ark. And then there's another scene with Marcus about Indy going to find his old mentor, Abner Ravenwood, to start his search for the Ark.<br /><br />All of those scenes - the cave and chase, Indy teaching, Indy and the government guys, and Indy packing to get on the plane to Nepal, comprise SEQUENCE ONE - which you could call the SET UP (which SEQUENCE ONE almost always is). <br /><br />And then SEQUENCE TWO is the whole Nepal experience - 15 minutes of action in the same place.<br /><br />Is that any clearer, now? I can certainly go more into it.<br /><br />It would be a lot better to have a different term for the 8 Sequences, but I'm afraid that's what they've been called for a long time.Alexandra Sokoloffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02881770599534651858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27131013.post-64389344464429648662009-05-18T11:52:00.000-07:002009-05-18T11:52:00.000-07:00Also, is there any way you can explain sequences a...Also, is there any way you can explain sequences a little more? I'm still a little stuck on those and how they fit into the act structure chart. Maybe my mind just hasn't wrapped itself around those yet.Kristinenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27131013.post-26525019705575768762009-05-18T11:48:00.000-07:002009-05-18T11:48:00.000-07:00Great introduction. It's interesting to read about...Great introduction. It's interesting to read about how this all got started for you. <br /><br />I'm SO excited about your new book release next week. Yay!Kristinenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27131013.post-34938643684896510922009-05-18T06:27:00.000-07:002009-05-18T06:27:00.000-07:00Oh, no, you've discovered my secret shame. Yes. ...Oh, no, you've discovered my secret shame. Yes. I am a pantser of life.<br /><br />Thank YOU, RJ - believe me, I would never have had the stamina or enthusiasm for doing these blogs if not for you and others who participate so generously in these discussions. There's nothing worse than writing into a vacuum, and I learn just as much from you guys as you think you're learning from me.Alexandra Sokoloffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02881770599534651858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27131013.post-69799751243717343962009-05-18T06:11:00.000-07:002009-05-18T06:11:00.000-07:00"As with most everything I do in life, I’ve just b..."As with most everything I do in life, I’ve just been making it up as I go along."<br /><br />AH HA! So you <I>are</I> a pantser! Just not when it comes to writing :)<br /><br />I just want to thank you for all the valuable tips and tricks you've been providing here. Well worth the price of admission. I've even went down to my local print shop and made a book from your posts. It now sits right next to my copies of <I>On Writing</I> and <I>Story</I>.<br /><br />Funny enough, I've found out there are other people at work who also enjoy writing. Of course the first thing I did was mention your posts on writing. I'm sure that they'll get as much out of it as I do.R.J. Mangahashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10335616508441176887noreply@blogger.com